Muni Operator Robert Valenzuela, who makes an appearance in our new podcast episode, shows off one of our holiday buses.
The holidays are in full swing, and Muni is here to help you get through the hustle and bustle of the season. You can hear all about it in “Dashing Through the Holidays on Muni,” the new episode of our Taken with Transportation podcast.
‘Tis always the season to support small businesses
The episode features small business owners talking about the importance of Muni. One of them is Rize Up Bakery Founder and Head Baker Azikiwee Anderson. “Whether it’s two in the morning or six in the morning, a lot of my staff are coming in to work specifically on Muni,” Anderson explains.
Rize Up sells bread and other baked goods at farmers markets, restaurants and grocery stores all over the city. And Anderson has noticed something about the restaurants, stores and markets near Muni routes. “We tend to sell out a little bit easier because it’s a little bit easier to get there,” he says.
San Francisco’s Union Square neighborhood is dressed up for the holidays. And so are our cable cars.
Union Square is chock full of holiday magic, with events and shopping alongside galleries and restaurants. And Muni will take you there by bus, train, streetcar or cable car.
“All major roads, I like to say, lead to Union Square,” Union Square Alliance Executive Director Marisa Rodriquez tells us. “We come to work here. We come to play here. We come to celebrate here. And it’s important that we can get here.”
Small businesses are at the heart of our city. And Muni helps keep that heart beating during the holidays and all year long.
Ride with the spirit of the season
Muni Operator Robert Valenzuela also appears in “Dashing Through the Holidays on Muni.” He drives the 5 Fulton and describes the energy on his route at this time of year as loving and fun. "Sometimes you’ll get a guy on the bus, and he’ll play a musical instrument and get the whole bus caroling," Valenzuela says.
And we hear from our passengers. “I really feel the holiday spirit riding Muni,” one woman says. “I feel like the community just comes together, and there’s so much joy on those trains.”
How to listen
You can find “Dashing Through the Holidays on Muni” and all our Taken with Transportation episodes on our podcast webpage (SFMTA.com/Podcast) and our YouTube channel. We’re also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other podcast platforms.